IAH-FLL in April

[johno1234]

Hi - currently this flight on CelebrityCruiseAir is just under $400 return. Is that as good as it gets? Should I book it now or wait?

 

From what I can tell, the Celebrity price is always a little bit cheaper than anywhere else's price - true?

 

Thanks

 

[CruiserBruce]

Absolutely no one is going to be able to tell you what the price might do. To say Celebrity "always" has the cheaper airfares...remember the rules about "always" and "never"?

 

Currently I am seeing many United flights at about $355, for a random weekend pair of flights, as we don't have any hard details on your scheduling.

[johno1234]

34 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

Absolutely no one is going to be able to tell you what the price might do. To say Celebrity "always" has the cheaper airfares...remember the rules about "always" and "never"?

 

Currently I am seeing many United flights at about $355, for a random weekend pair of flights, as we don't have any hard details on your scheduling.

 

Having been watching on and off for a couple of months, CelebrityCruiseAir has always shown a slightly lower price than the likes of Google Flights, UA etc hence the comment.

 

As you can see on my sig banner, looking at 1-12 April. Currently UA has $399 and CCA has $393, both for same flight in "standard economy".

 

Not personally familiar with USA domestic airfare market hence the question. Perhaps someone with familiarity with this route will know if this price varies or is pretty much fixed.

 

 

 

Edited October 23, 2018 by johno1234
clarification

[CruiserBruce]

21 minutes ago, johno1234 said:

 

Having been watching on and off for a couple of months, CelebrityCruiseAir has always shown a slightly lower price than the likes of Google Flights, UA etc hence the comment.

 

As you can see on my sig banner, looking at 1-12 April. Currently UA has $399 and CCA has $393, both for same flight in "standard economy".

 

Not personally familiar with USA domestic airfare market hence the question. Perhaps someone with familiarity with this route will know if this price varies or is pretty much fixed.

 

Many people are turning off viewing the Signature area, because it can take up a lot of screen space. This was also true in the old format of Cruise Critic, so you shouldn't assume people will see your upcoming or past cruises.

 

I am seeing non-stops as low as $323 on United, and one stops as low as $352 on Delta for your dates. Check out Matrix-ITA website.

[johno1234]

Thanks Bruce. I can see that Matrix ITA (owned by Google apparently?) is showing me the same prices as both GoogleFlights and UA.

 

The difference is that the $323 price is "basic economy" vs $383 for standard economy. (My $399 standard economy was coming back an extra day later  on standard economy). 

 

Other than no seat select, not sure what you lose on "basic". Neither includes a checked in bag.

 

A benefit of CCA (other than the tiny price difference to standard economy) that they will assure your flight will be in time to board and will assist if any disruption affects this... FWIW.

 

 

[FlyerTalker]

2 hours ago, johno1234 said:

A benefit of CCA (other than the tiny price difference to standard economy) that they will assure your flight will be in time to board and will assist if any disruption affects this... FWIW.

 

 

HaHaHa.  Best laugh of the day.

 

I wonder if you can find exactly where they "assure your flight will be in time"  Read the terms and conditions closely and come back and report.

[johno1234]

3 minutes ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

HaHaHa.  Best laugh of the day.

 

I wonder if you can find exactly where they "assure your flight will be in time"  Read the terms and conditions closely and come back and report.

 

Yeah, I know. Do you know what "FWIW" means?

 

To answer your question:

http://www.cruisingpower.com/choiceair/protected/aboutChoiceAir.do

 

"Why choose ChoiceAir^®?

ChoiceAir^® provides premium benefits that give you everything you want in airfare. It provides the best value, the assurance that the flights you select will get you to the ship on time, the flexibility to choose your airline, and flights, and the assurance that a round-the-clock support specialist is available throughout your travel."

 

and:

 

"What happens when my flight is delayed?

Assured Arrival is our guarantee to assist our ChoiceAir^® guests when they encounter any flight disruptions that occur through no fault of their own. We have a team of Emergency Travel Specialists standing by that proactively monitor flights and act as a liason between our ships and our guests. This team is available to assist you 24/7 @ 800-256-6649 (domestically) or 305-539-4107 (internationally)."

[FlyerTalker]

And, of course, those are marketing texts.  Try finding those absolute assurances in the actual T&C, which the the governing language - not the marketing blurb on the webpage you cite.

[fbgd]

15 hours ago, johno1234 said:

A benefit of CCA (other than the tiny price difference to standard economy) that they will assure your flight will be in time to board and will assist if any disruption affects this... FWIW.

 

 

 

You're not the first person, and won't be the last person, to fall for that marketing carp.

Edited October 24, 2018 by fbgd

[Zach1213]

1 hour ago, fbgd said:

 

You're not the first person, and won't be the last person, to fall for that marketing carp.

I prefer marketing salmon myself

[3rdCoastFan]

17 hours ago, johno1234 said:

Other than no seat select, not sure what you lose on "basic". Neither includes a checked in bag.

 

 

 

You also lose access to a second piece of carry-on luggage and, in theory, the overhead storage compartments. That is, if you tried to put your small personal item in the overhead bin, I can't see someone bothering to stop you. You will  board last, though, and there likely won't be any room available. On United, too, you will be stuck in a middle seat in the back of plane and will never be given an opportunity to upgrade your seat (even via a 'day of departure' offer). 

[johno1234]

3 hours ago, fbgd said:

 

You're not the first person, and won't be the last person, to fall for that marketing carp.

 

Aaaaaand another one who doesn't know what FWIW means....

[fbgd]

5 minutes ago, johno1234 said:

 

Aaaaaand another one who doesn't know what FWIW means....

 

For What It's Worth, you don't seem to understand the bogus Cruise Air "guarantee".

[johno1234]

4 minutes ago, fbgd said:

 

For What It's Worth, you don't seem to understand the bogus Cruise Air "guarantee".

 

If someone says FWIW then they are questioning the worth, so have not fallen for the "marketing carp".  

Would have thought this was obvious. Oh well, never mind.

[FlyerTalker]

Better check on your carryon rules for "Basic Economy".  IIRC, you get no carryon allowance on United, so you are paying for checking that carryon.  And other nice little gotchas.  But hey...it sounds cheap and great.

 

Caveat Emptor.

[johno1234]

Flyertalker - yep there's a carry-on restriction for "Basic Economy" - any item brought onboard must fit under the seat in front of you as you are restricted from using the overhead bins. 

 

Looks like IAH-MIA is quite a lot cheaper, just have to get from there to Port Everglades...